As I finish a fun week of boating in Seattle with the boys and my parents, I am sharing another favorite post from my archives. Traveling always forces me to pull back from the daily grind and get into "relaxed" mode, which includes NOT doing much writing or work of any kind. (I wish I could say that was easy for me, but it honestly isn't.)So here's a post to remind you and ME of something that I think is pretty important...The importance of being a relaxed parent.*****I hate
Parenting and Family
Stop the Fighting! A Little Help for Sibling Squabbles.
SIBLING SQUABBLING....If I could give you one easy solution to end sibling squabbles, I'd be a millionaire tomorrow. But unfortunately, fighting among siblings is an age-old problem. It goes back as far as recorded history. (remember Cain and Abel?...That one didn't end so well.)There is not one easy solution, but I can offer some tools and tricks that have helped when the bickering begins in our home.And though my boys are not perfect, and believe-you-me
Happy Father’s Day! Lessons I Learned From My Dad
I don't think there is a better gift in the world than to be raised by a loving Father. I have been blessed to grow up with not only a loving father, but a super smart, hilariously funny, and well -- a truly unique Dad. (which became all the more apparent as I compiled the following list.) Dad worked as a lawyer, and loved his work. In fact, though he is officially retired, he still goes into his office regularly. Beyond work, Dad is also crazy about his wife, (see #11-12) and has a genuine
How to Lighten things up and Laugh more as a Family
When is the last time your whole family all had a good laugh? Like a full-on, happy, hearty, group-laugh?Well, in my household of rambunctious boys, there is a lot of laughter. Sometimes I think they're hilariously funny, other times I just have no idea.My husband is a bit more on the reserved side, with a witty, but quiet sense of humor. He and I have some good laughs, but the kids don't always catch their dad's sense of humor. Therefore my boys have an on-going life mission to get
Summer Safety Tips with Dr. Dave and Monica (a VLOG!)
So...it seems summer is upon us! I don't know how that is even possible since it was Christmas like yesterday, and I haven't even started spring cleaning yet (ah well, there's always next year)...but schools are getting out, vacations are revving up, and all of the happy feelings are evvvverywhere.With all of that in mind, I thought this might be a good time to bring Dave on to do a little video chat with me...Summer safety being the topic.Because it's all fun and games til little
Our Staycation at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beachwalk (and Luke’s State Championship)
Some of my favorite memories of childhood were family vacations. Everything from our first trips to Hawaii, to the most simple camping trips stand out in my mind as the most fun and memorable family times. I want that for my kids, too. But Hawaii is a long ways from the rest of the world, so most of the time a "staycation" is the best we can do...We used to love to take the whole family downtown for Waikiki staycations. We would pack into a hotel room and everyone would share beds and
The Four Stages of a Healthy Relationship with Your Kids.
Every parent hopes to have a healthy relationship with their kids, yet I hear from a lot of parents who are struggling to connect with their children. Sometimes it hits at the teenage years, sometimes much younger. Parents reach out to me with concern over why their kid spends all of his or her time in their bedroom, or why they show so little respect or appreciation for their parents. Sometimes they can’t put their finger on it, but they feel like their relationship with their child is
A 20th Anniversary Getaway, at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Our 20th Anniversary at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani was truly dreamy. I thought for fun I'd just give you a little journal-style look at what we did. (Maybe it will inspire you to plan your own romantic getaway!)The truth is: Getting away -- just the two of us -- with no agenda, no kids, and no stress...Well, we needed it even more than we had realized.Most of you probably agree: It isn't easy to get away during this season of life. Somehow I used to imagine that when we hit